Adjustable surgical finger splint



July 28, 1953 A 2,646,794

ADJUSTABLE SURGICAL FINGER SPLINT Filed 001;. 9, 1951 33 m 2 2o "618mADRIAN D. 'BAER Zhwentor Gttomegs Patented July 28, @953 UNITED sTATEsPATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates v more particularly, to an adjustable surgicalfinger splint. Briefly, the splint includes two splint members havingtheir inner ends juxtaposed and forming an extensible splint to fitdifferent length fingers. At one end of the splint is a crutch enddisposed ,to' bear on the fleshy portion of the palm adjacent theknuckle of an injured finger positioned on the splint. The other end ofthe splint has adjustable means for securing tension means and adjustingtraction on the injured finger.

In forming a splint for a finger, an important object is to provideadequate securing means for the end of the splint near the knuckle sothat the digit may be maintained in longitudinal traction while thebroken phalanx heals. Convenient means should be provided for applyingand adjusting the traction. At the same time, the splint should beformed with consideration for the comfort of the patient and for theusefulness of the hand. As fingers vary in length, a splint should beadjustable so that it may be used for digits of various lengths. T

The objects of my invention include, therefore, to provide a fingersplint with special provision for adequate securing of the end of thesplint near the knuckle, todevise means for to surgical splints, and,

conveniently applying and adjusting the trac- 7 tion, to provide maximumprotection of the injured digit while'avoiding unnecessary encumbranceso that the hand may be useful, to devise which will be comfortable tothe patient, and to 7 provide a splint which is adjustable for variouslengths of fingers.

. Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedescription and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended orare inherent in the device.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a splint which is aspecific embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is aside view of the splint, partly in section, and shown as itappears in use on an injured digit; j V

Figure 3 is a side view, of part ofthe assembly as it would appear whenused as a protective rather than a traction devise; 1 I Figure 4 is aside view, partly in section and enlarged, of the traveler and screw eyeportion of the device; V g

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view takenon line 5 5 of Figure 4; and 1Figure 6 is a. view, partly in section and enla s ta e o l p re;

The splint has a first and a second splint member, 10 and I2respectively. These are preferably made of somewhat malleable materialso that the splint can be shaped to fit a particular hand if necessary.At the same time, the material must be rigid enough to withstand theforces applied thereon in placing a finger in traction. The inner endsof the splint members are juxtaposed and are slidable longitudinally ofeach other, thereby forming an extensible unit to accommodate variouslengths of fingers.

Means of securing the splint members together include openings in firstsplint member [0 and square headed bolts l4 and I6. Splint member 12 hasa slot H3 in which the bolts are positioned and slotted nuts 20, 22complete the assembly.

As shown in Figure 1, the upper face of splint member H! is concavetransversely to accommodate the shape of the finger positioned thereon.The finger is taped to the splint as partially shown at in Figure 2 andthis is a primary means of securing the splint to the finger includingthe prevention of longitudinal movement. In preventing such longitudinalmovement it acts in two ways. in directly securing the finger to thesplint and in positioning curved crutch end 32 in position to act assecuring means. Crutch end 32 bears on the fleshy portion of the palmnear the juncture of the injured digit and the metacarpus, and thecrutch end is designed to closely fit this portion. This crutch endshould be, distinguished from a splint end resting on the center of thepalm because such a palm rest requires that the finger be maintained atan angle to the surface of the palm if the rest is to maintain itsfunction. With the present device, the finger can be substantiallystraightened without dislodging. cruch end 32..

7 and runs across the first splint member [0. It

will be seen that means has been provided for adequately securing thesplint while providing for minimum encumbrance of the hand and with dueconsideration to comfort.

The outer end of second splint member I2 has a boss 50 disposed in linewith the injured digit. Boss 50 is of large size and will protect thefinger even if the splint is used only as a protective device, ratherthan a traction device, as shown Figure 3. When the splint is used forlongitudinal traction, boss 50 provides, in addition to its protectivefunction, a bearing for traveler 52. The major portion of traveler 52 isrod shaped and has threads 54. Nut 55, preferably having a knurledsurface, is positioned on the outer end of traveler 52 and providesmeans for making fine adjustments of the position of traveler 52, andconsequently of the amount of traction on the finger. Traveler 52 isheld from rotation, as nut 56 is tightened, by a straight edge 58 offlange E abutting the adjacent surface of splint member I2.

Traveler 52 has a screw eye I'D positioned in a threaded bore. thefinger by means of a rubber band ll taped to the finger, as shown at E2in Figure 2, and hooked on screw eye it.

In placing the finger on the splint, first and second splint members id,l2 are adjusted to the length of the finger and secured in theirrelative position by tightening nuts 2t and 22. Then the crutch end 32is positioned firmly in place and secured by tape. Screw eye ll! isdisposed generally in the position it is to occupy in traction; and thenrubber band i! is hooked on the screw eye. It may be found that more orless pressure is required and this may be closely adjusted by means oftraveler 52 and nut 5% without appreciably disturbing the positioning ofscrew eye It and band ll. On later examination of the finger duringconvalescence it may be desired to change the tension on the band andthis may be conveniently accomplished by means of traveler 52. By thesemeans, the traction applying members may be conveniently adjusted to thefinger in first roughly approximating the desirable positioning and inlater making an exact application of traction. Because the traveler doesnot rotate, the positioning of the screw eye is not disturbed duringfinal adjustment and the splint should be successfully applied in oneoperation. This is to be contrasted with other systems where the splintis often applied several times'before a satisfactory adjustment, isachieved or where the doctor has to be satisfied with a generalapproximation of the desired degree of traction. The present adjustablefinger splint is both time conserving and sparing of discomfort to thepatient.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above,description and the disclosure in the drawings that the inventioncomprehends a novel construction of an adjustable surgical fingersplint.

Having thus disclosed the invention, 1 claim:

1. An adjustable finger splint, comprising: first and second elongatedsplint members, said splint members having their inner end portionsjuxtaposed and being slidable longitudinally of each other whereby theyform an extensible unit; adjustable moans securing said splint memberstogether; one side of said first splint member form-- ing a rest toaccommodate an injured finger; said first splint member having means forsecuring the same to such injured finger adjacent to the knuckle joint;the outer end of said second'splint member having a large boss extendinglaterally to lie at the end of such injured finger; said boss having anopening therethrough and a rod shaped traveler positioned in saidopening to move longitudinally of said splint members, said travelerhaving a flange on its inner end having an edge abutting the adjacentportion of said secondsplint member and preventing rotation of saidtraveler; said traveler having a threaded Traction is usually appliedon:

bore and screw eye positioned in said bore to which tension means can befastened for traction of such injured finger; and the outer end of saidtraveler being threaded and a nut positioned on the same and abuttingsaid boss for moving said traveler longitudinally of said splintmembers.

2. An adjustable finger splint, comprising: first and second elongatedsplint members, said. splint members having their inner end portionsjuxtaposed and being slidable longitudinally of each other whereby theyform an extensible unit; adjustable means securing said splint memberstogether; one side of said first splint member forming a rest toaccommodate an injured finger and the. outer end of said first splintmember having .a crutch end curving towards the opposite side from saidrest and disposed to bear on the fleshy portion of the palm immediatelyadjacent to the knuckle joint of such injured finger; .a pair .of wingspositioned on saidfirstsplint member adjacent said. curved end andextending from the edges of said rest to lie on either side of suchinjured finger, each wing being in position to bear on the crotchbetween such injured finger and an adjacent finger; the outer end ofsaid second splint member having a large boss on one side positioned tolie at the end of such injured finger; said boss having an openingtherethrough and a rod shaped traveler positioned in said opening tomove longitudinally of said splint members, said traveler having aflange on its inner end having an edge abutting the adjacent portion ofsaid second splint member and preventing rotation of said traveler; saidtraveler having a threaded bore and a screw eye positioned in said boreto which tension means can be fastened for traction of such injuredfinger; and the outer end of said traveler being threaded and a nutpositioned on the same and abutting said boss for moving said travelerlongitudinally of said splint members.

3'. An adjustable finger splint, comprising: an elongated splint; oneside of said splint forming a rest to accommodate an injured finger andone end of said splint having a crutch end curving towards the oppositeside from said rest and disposed to bear on the fleshy portion of thepalm immediately adjacent to the knuckle joint of such injured finger;the other end of said fiplintghaving ,a large boss on one sidepositioned toqlie at the end of such injured finger; said boss having anopening therethrough and a rod shaped traveler positioned in saidopening to move longitudinally of said splint, said traveler havingmeans abutting the. adjacent portion of said, splint and preventingrotation of said traveler; said traveler having a threaded bore and ascrew eye positioned in said bore to which tension means can be fastenedfor traction of such injured finger; and the outer end of said travelerbeing threaded and a nut positioned on the same and abutting said bossfor moving said traveler longitudinally of said splint.

4. An adjustable finger splint, comprising: an elongated splint; oneside of said splint forming a rest to accommodate-an injured finger andone end of said splint having a crutch end curving towards the oppositeside from said rest and disposed to bear on the fleshy portion of thepalm immediately adjacent to the knuckle joint of such injured finger; apair of wings positioned on said splint adjacent said curved end andextending from the edges of said rest to lie on either side of suchinjured finger, each wing being in position to bear on the crotchbetween such injured finger and an adjacent finger; the other end ofsaid splint having a boss on one side positioned to lie at the end ofsuch injured finger; said boss having an opening therethrough and atraveler positioned in said opening to move longitudinally of saidsplint; manually operable mechanical means for moving said traveler insaid opening longitudinally of said splint; and means on said travelerfor securing tension means to said traveler for traction of such injuredfinger.

5. An adjustable finger splint, comprising:

first and second elongated splint members, said splint members havingtheir inner end portions juxtaposed and being slidable longitudinally ofeach other whereby they form an extensible unit; adjustable meanssecuring said splint members together; one side of said first splintmember forming a rest to accommodate an injured finger; the outer end ofsaid first splint member having a crutch end curving toward the oppositeside from said rest and disposed to bear on the fleshy portion of thepalm immediately adjacent to the knuckle joint of such injured finger; apair of wings positioned on said first splint member adjacent saidcurved end and extending from the edge of said rest to lie on eitherside of such injured finger, each wing being in position to bear on thecrotch between such injured finger and an adjacent finger; the outer endof said second splint member having a boss on one side positioned to lieat the end of such injured finger; said boss having an openingtherethrough and a traveler positioned in said opening to movelongitudinally of said splint members, said traveler being securedagainst rotation in relation to said boss; manually operable mechanicalmeans for moving said traveler in said opening longitudinally of saidsplint members; and means on said traveler for securing tension means tosaid traveler for traction of such injured finger.

ADRIAN D. BAER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,237,251 Longfellow Apr. 1, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 605,706 France Feb. 22, 1926

